Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-12-20
sPRlNGERS LETTER i.

The Document Presented to tile One
sraters at Aberdeen East Week.
The following is the letter read before
the Aberdeen convention from Congress-
man Springer;
This is she first concerted movement
on the part OF the people of Dakota for
single statehood which has come TO my
knowledge. Heretofore the organized
efforts of your people have been in tbs
direction of division of the territory in to
two parts, while individuals, CERTAIN
localities and newspapers in the territory
have opposed such efforts. These cor-
tending factions among your own People
have had the inevitable result OF pre-
venting any affirmative action whatever
by congress. some of our citizens seem
to entertain the idea that the question of
division of the territory is purely local
one, concerning only the people of Da-
kota. This is great mistake. The
people Ut every state in the union are
equally interested IN this question, and
ii 10 no more question to be left to the
territory than would be the question OF
dividing the state of Florida aud erect
ing two states out OF the territory COM
prised within its present limits. The
average population of the states of the
union exceeds g 100000. Dakota
at this time does not claim TO
have population exceeding GOO, 900,
Hence. OF present, on The ground OF
population, there is, no vell-founded
reason for her insisting upon the forma-
tion OF two states out of her present ter
rltory, or for giving the people within
her limits four senators in the senate OF
the United States, while the state OF
Illinois with 100000 and the state OF
New York with 100000 OF people have
but two senators each. Under section s
of article 4, OF the constitution OF the
United States no new state can be form
ed or erected within the jurisdiction oil
any other state without the consent oil
the Legislature of suah state es well as OF
the congress. Those who are claiming
| the right of division are claiming greater
power for the territory than any state ir
the union has under the constitution
However. If at any time in the future
the people of Dakota become so nu-
merous that their material interest,
would be best subserved by division, th,
Legislature OF the state and the congress
Of the United States acting in coBjuno
tion can secure such division. Thcs,
who are weddsd TO the idea OF diyisio,
may we'll postpone the realization o
their hopes until more convenient sea
con, for can assure them from m,
: knowledge OF public sentiment here tina
, the division of Dakota at this time, ant
the erection OF two states within he
borders Is utterly impossible.
/ have been sssailed in some quarter
J for having opposed Che admission o
Dakota into the unIan, and such crit
: cisms are unjust and without foundation
have earnestly desired and still do de
sire the admission OF Dakota into th
union as one state, but have oppose
. and will continue to oppoe
/ her dismembsrment. While some I
her citizens perhaps interested in certai
localities that may be affected by al
: vision May criticise my course st th
I time, yet I feel assured that hereaft,
4 thoee who have insisted upon sing
admission wiz be regarded az the ben
factors OF the territory. After Dako
Q shall have been admitted to the unic
and taken her place in the sIsterho0d
states. the magnitude Of her domain, Il
= greatness OF hex; resources and IL
!. conrage and indomitabie pluck of b,
people will inspire in every citizen
aI Just Rnd laudsble prida, It will be n
% boast OF thousands. and perhaps miIlior
y Iof our citizens Who mag her
after reside within your luri
g dicti0n, that they are the citiEens gre
o state, and in national conventions
II